An Announcement

So,
if you're a reader of this blog, I'm really quite sorry. I have decided to keep my New Zealand blog as my only blog, and will no longer be updating this one. I don't know why I haven't let you know that up to this point, but alas, se la vie.

Come over and join me at my adventure blog!

Sacrifice

I know I said I wasn't going to be posting on this blog while in New Zealand, but this post fits this personal blog more than my New Zealand blog. I hope you continue to check my updates on that blog, however, I need to write this here, if not for you, for me.


I have been blessed so much on this trip. So much doesn't even cover it. Abundantly, too, seems inadequate.

I came here to New Zealand for educational purposes. What I didn't realize was this trip is and has already taught me to be better. To be better in so many ways, but most specifically as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

John and Amy have taken me in and have made so many sacrifices for me. Sometimes I feel really bad, but whenver I say anything they brush it off. Like today, I was doing the dishes and washing off the bench, and Amy told me not to worry about it, and I replied, "Well, I need to make some sort of contribution while I'm here." And Amy replied as sincere as ever, "You being here is the contribution Tiffany."

I guess I'm thinking more about it today than normal, because our lesson today in Relief Society was sacrifice. I think of all the sacrifices John and Amy have done for me, and I'm overwhelmed.

So what I'm learning in New Zealand isn't the educational system (though I have learned about it) or the ESL Classroom. Instead I'm learning about the gosple and what people do to serve their fellow man and to serve God. I want to remember John and Amy forever. I want to remember their humble plea for me to stay with them. I want to remember the conversations we have. But mostly, mostly I want to remember the example they are setting for me, so that I may be better, and I can, in return, serve those around me, whereever I may end up. Serve them happily and humbly, because that's what John and Amy are doing for me on a daily basis while I'm staying here.

New Zealand Blog

Hey guys,
I'm sorry it's been a while. I had a lot to do before I left, and then the 23rd snuck up on me. Anywho... I won't be posting to this blog while I'm in New Zealand, so if you want to know what's new, visit:
thenewzme.blogspot.com


See you over there!

McIntosh

Last time I went to the store, I went to the local grocery store, and they had a lot more variety than the chain stores do.

Anyway, I bought some McIntosh apples, because one of the last times I went to Kale's to visit, he told me to bring some McIntosh apples because they make the best pies.

So when I went to the store a week ago-ish, I saw some McIntosh apples, and so I bought a few.

I was really excited, because I used to eat this flavor of apple all the time. Today however, I really didn't like it, at all. It was softish and had a mealy texture. I liked the flavor, it reminded me of a simpler time.

It reminded me of when I was in Bondand, living across the highway from my grandparents. My grandpa had a small apple orchard, and every fall we would go and climb ladders and pick apples for several weekends in the fall. The taste brought so many memories back to my mind. Back to a simpler, happier time. Walking across the slimy, rotten apples that weren't yet picked, throwing the apples with worms in them at my brothers.

Oh, how I wish my life was simple and easy again. Sometimes I get sad, really say in fact, because of how much I missed out on.... I know a lot of it is my own doing, but of late, I've been feeling a lot of regret.

I think a lot of it has to do with the whole "growing up" thing, and the "graduating" thing, and the "being an adult" thing... Well you get the point.

Anyway, I just realized today, how much I miss home, and how much I miss the simpler times.

The LOVES of my life

I haven't shown any pictures lately, so I thought I would share a few of my Favs of late :D

Namara and her baby

Me and Namara-- I realized I didn't have many/any pictures of just the two of us, hence this photo op I took advantage of.

Tobin doing Yoga with Aunt-T on the Wii fit-- Can you find anything cuter?

Tobin and Aunt-T-- I love this boy

A Namara/Aunt-T moment. Cute little girl.

Seriously? Love.

They were so cute cuddled up together on the couch. A minute or two before this, I was on there too = uncomfortable, yet wonderful.

I Love Love Love Love LOVE this photo of Maraleigh. It just makes me smile.

Wow.

I have been "student teaching" at the highschool just north of Logan since the beginning of January. I have experienced quite a few emotions since I have started, and for a while it was resentment.

But today, today was a good day. I had an amazing lesson, I connected with students, and I pacified a few of my students's frustrations and anxieties. I remembered (once again) why I went into teaching. Why I always felt like this is something I wanted to do.

I really just had a great day. I didn't feel like I was constantly at odds with my cooperating teacher, and I didn't feel like the kids were bored out of their minds.

I'm really excited for this chapter in my life.

I'm also really excited to start learning and experiencing new things.

All you Need is Love

I just bought this adorable sign from Hobby Lobby last week.

Everytime I see it, I start singing the Beatles song. And I realize, all I really do need is love.

I used to hate that saying. Mainly because finding "love" is hard for me. But this sign helps remind me what Love really is.

Love is loving yourself for yourself. Loving who you are in spite of you. I know the same is true for when you have someone special in your life, because for a short time I did have someone special in my life, and I loved him in spite of him.

But it's loving yourself. It's knowing that people around you, love you. It's knowing your Heavenly Father loves you. It's loving your Heavenly Father. It's loving the people around you. It isn't the mushy gooshy nonsense. At least not to me. To me it's so much deeper, and yet so much more surface level than that.

To me, simply put, it's loving yourself.